Cryopreservation of Passiflora pohlii nodal segments and assessment of genetic stability of regenerated plants.

Abstract

Passiflora pohlii is a wild species native to Brazil, with a potential agronomic interest due to its tolerance to soil-borne pathogens that cause damage to the passion fruit culture, and could be used in breeding. Because this species occurs in impacted regions, the goal of this study was the development of in vitro conservation strategies, using nodal segments from axenic plants. Encapsulation-vitrification and vitrification techniques were tested for cryopreservation of nodal segments. The highest recovery (65%) was obtained with the vitrification technique using treatment with the PVS3 vitrification solution from 30 to 120 min. Post-rewarming recovery was achieved on MSM medium supplemented with 30.8 μM BAP with incubation in the dark for 30 days before transfer in the presence of light. No differences were detected between control and cryopreserved materials as assayed by RAPD and ISSR.